'Seals are eating all the fish in the river'

By [ibond]

ANGLERS have met their match with some unexpected visitors to the River Hull.

Seals have been spotted eating fish in the river near the old shipyard in Beverley – about six miles inland.

Keen angler and Beverley mayor Councillor Ken Thorley believes the unwanted guests should be moved to save fish stocks.

He said: "These seals have been reported to the Environment Agency and we'd have expected them to have been removed.

"The seals have been taking barbel, which are a prize catch. I have seen quite a few chaps fishing down there and they have caught nothing recently."

Paul Cargill, of the Environment Agency, admits it is causing a headache.

He said: "The problem is the seals are going for the same fish as the anglers.

"The other concern is the fish aren't very oily and not as good for seals as sea fish."

But both the Environment Agency and the RSPCA have ruled out moving the seals.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: "Seals do sometimes come far inland, perhaps it's to do with the breeding season.

"They don't tend to stay long and will eventually make their own way out. People should just enjoy observing them, as they won't be there long.

"We would also warn people that disturbing, interfering or killing the seals is against the law as they are a protected species."